CONDITIONALS AND FUTURE TIME CLAUSES

ZERO CONDITIONAL

IF + PRESENT SIMPLE, PRESENT CONTINUOUS / PRESENT SIMPLE, PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Zero conditional is used to talk about something which is always true or always happens as a result of
something else. (laws of physics, chemistry…)

If you heat water at 100 degrees, it boils.

If you mix white and black, you get grey.

If I have a headache, I drink an aspirin.

FIRST CONDITIONAL

IF + PRESENT SIMPLE, PRESENT CONTINUOUS, PRESENT PERFECT / WILL, GOING TO, FUTURE PERFECT,
FUTURE CONTINUOUS,
IMPERATIVE

First conditional is used to talk about possible condition in the present and its possible consequence
(result) in the future.

If I haven’t come back by 7, start dinner without me.

I will have finished in an hour if you don’t disturb me.

FUTURE TIME CLAUSES

As soon as, when, while, until, unless, in case

I’ll be ready as soon as I’ve had a shower.

We’re not going to go out until the rain has stopped.

We’ll probably be watching a film when you arrive.

I’m not going to work overtime unless I get paid.

Take your umbrella in case it rains.

*We use in case when we do something in order to be ready for future situations/problems:

I’ll take a jacket if it’s cold. = I won’t take one if it isn’t cold

I’ll take a jacket in case it’s cold. = I’ll take it anyway because it might get cold.